House District 49 contest features rematch

SMYRNA – GOP state Rep. Mike Sparks and Democratic challenger Mike Williams are taking similar approaches to a state House election that's not new to either of them.

The two Smyrna residents are vying to represent the state House's 49th district, which includes La Vergne and parts of Smyrna, for the second time in a row.

Sparks, a two-term incumbent, defeated Williams with 58 percent of the vote in November 2012.

Sparks, a small business owner, said he wants to continue to serve the district to highlight the issues he and his constituents want addressed.

If re-elected, he said he wants to focus on what he sees as a need for mass transit in Rutherford County and the cost of college textbooks at state universities.

His support, however, won't always translate into laws that he said aren't always work. Instead, Sparks said the best solutions come from reaching out to lawmakers, state officials and non-governmental organizations who can solve pressing issues more effectively.

"I don't think we can legislate to solve problems," he said. "It's raising awareness and working together to solve problems."

Even as a self-described tea party Republican, Sparks said he's willing to work with any legislators to try to handle those issues. He said he spoke to every legislator before unanimously passing a bill tied to placing "In God We Trust" in front of a state Capitol entrance.

"I don't look at the Republicans or Democrats. I look at the issue," Sparks said. "Does it pull people up or put people down?"

The incumbent highlighted his experience as a state and local elected official, saying that his years of work and connections make him a better legislator with support from statewide groups like the Tennessee Firearms Association and the Tennessee Education Association.

"But the best endorsement I can get is from the people to put me back in Nashville," he said.

Legislature of 'no'

Williams, a retired Methodist minister and college professor, said voting him into the General Assembly would help bring a new face to what he sees as a "failed legislature."

While campaigning outside the Tennessee Rehab Center in Smyrna this week, Williams said he was running to try to get something accomplished for the district in what Williams called the "legislature of 'no.'"

"My campaign is about getting to 'yes,'" Williams said, who also is chairman of the county Democratic Party.

Williams blasted the current Republican-dominated Legislature, which he said took decision-making power away from local governments. He criticized lawmakers for supporting Amendment 3, which would ban the state and individual communities from passing any type of income tax.

"A legislature's job is to listen to the local communities they represent," Williams said. "This state Legislature tells the local officials what they can do and what they must do."

If elected, Williams said he would also call for the expansion of Medicaid in Tennessee and additional funding for public schools.

Even as a member of the Democratic Party likely to stay in the minority, Williams said he was still confident he could work with both parties to address the needs for Smyrna and La Vergne.

"If I didn't believe that, I wouldn't spend my so-called leisure years of my retirement to work for the people," he said.

More than 11,000 voters have cast their ballots in Rutherford County since early voting started two weeks ago, according to the Tennessee secretary of state's office.

Early voting will continue until Thursday. Election Day is Nov. 4.

Contact Brian Wilson at 615-278-5165 or bwilson@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brianwilson17.